Just experienced some overheating issues with my 04 - was running 200-214* ECT just cruising down the highway, & would spike to 220* when I pulled off & lost airflow over the cooling stack. I checked it out & noticed my radiator has apparently been leaking on the upper portion of the passenger side. I pulled it & took it to a radiator shop to see if it can be repaired, but I also noticed a pink slime/scale buildup wherever coolant had leaked & dried. Noticed the same dried residue on the top of my coolant filter when I pulled it. All the coolant I drained out looked clean & it's got less than 2000 miles on it. It was changed when I did my oil cooler last summer. I flushed the system with hose water, then distilled water prior to changing the cooler, then flushed with distilled water again afterwards, then filled with Final Charge EC1-compliant ELC coolant. Is this normal, or should I do another flush before reinstalling the radiator? It had Gold coolant prior to my replacing the oil cooler.

 

 

Didn't mean to suggest that the Gold coolant caused the leak; was just worried about the dried residue I found on the radiator & my coolant filter - it's certainly enough to clog up my new oil cooler.

 

I wouldn't worry about the residue, normal result of a leak. Even if it got back into the system I would suspect it would disolve.

 

Just had basically same thing happen to me,My Radiator cracked on drivers side top tank .I had a white scale on nearly everything under the hood.
As mentioned I think that' just normal for ELC to leave a residue when exposed to outside air.

 

Update - just picked up my radiator from the shop & they said they couldn't get it to leak! Been sitting there for 5 days & nobody even called me to come pick it up! I ordered a new radiator anyway, & decided since I'm this far into the truck already, I might as well replace the water pump too.

 

Time to find a different radiator shop.

 

Got my water pump swapped out this weekend - old one looked perfect, but went ahead & changed, just for piece of mind. Did notice a fair amount of wear/pitting in the housing. Was this probably caused by cavitation? Is this any cause for concern?

 

Got everything in the cooling system changed out... & it's still running hotter than I think it should!!! On a test drive on the freeway, ECT was running 210-212 just cruising at 70 with ACon. Ambient temp was 98*. As soon as I exited & was just driving around town, temps started to come down - got to 198* just idling at a light - & were running 200* when I pulled back into my driveway. I still think this is too hot, given that I've got a new water pump, radiator, & thermostat. I did confirm that my fan isn't coming on, but I thought that didn't come into play until 210* anyway? Only other piece in the cooling system is the oil cooler, which was replaced last summer. I've only put ~3000 miles on it since then, & i did flush the cooling system before replacing the cooler. Have been running the Peak Final Charge ELC coolant; when I drained it, it still looked brand new with no particulates visible. Also no evidence of puking, so I don't think this could be due to a blown HG. Was going to try the oil cooler back flush, just cause that's the only other thing i can think of. Any other suggestions?

 

Did you check the t stat? Is it a Mishimoto Hi temp? Is the rad clean? All this comes into play.

 

I was having the same issue. Had my cooler changed out last year and then this summer when the outside temps were hitting 100* my EOTs would hit 210-220. I took my truck to TSD (Truck Source Diesel) very reputable shop here in San Antonio. They had replaced my cooler. They kept it for a few days and were convinced that my cooler was okay. They seemed to think that the outside temps were playing a roll in my EOT readings. I kind of agreed with them since my temps would come down and as soon as I slowed down and the morning temps were cooler. So, They wrote me a tune that would enable my fan at higher speeds and more often. I really did not like the Idea because I felt that it was just a Band-Aid to the problem. But I have been driving around for about 2 months now and have had temps of EOT 205 and ECT 195. Plus the tune is awesome and I love the way my truck drives. I guess only time will tell.

Gilbert

 

Thermostat is a brand new Motorcraft; radiator is brand new as well - one of the aftermarket ones from ebay, but got good reviews & has fully welded aluminium end tanks instead of the plastic ones like the the factory replacements. Have corresponded with several members on powerstrokenation that installed the same unit & reported good results.